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The comic book grows up...or simply gets the recognition it deserves.

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300 (Kit Johnson review) *****
A scant few years ago, a niche graphic novelist named Frank Miller was relatively unknown. But -- largely due to the lack of original ideas coming out of Hollywood -- studio execs have turned to buying up all comic book and graphic novel rights. Five stars. [More]

300 remains atop North American box office *
An ancient epic about the famous Battle of Thermopylae in Greek history, wins anew at the North American box office. [More]

Bruce McCall: The cartographer of woe *
Bruce McCall has some rules for being a successful humorist, JESSICA JOHNSON writes. Be an outsider, drop out of school and don't get your hopes up. [More]

Cosmic Comics (Garber review) *
Comic Camp! [More]

Dragon of Heaven: The Memoirs of the Last Empress of China **** 1/2
The Memoirs of the Last Empress of China -- Highlighted by breathtakingly beautiful "portraits" by Regina-based fine artist Zhong-Yang Huang, David Bouchard's tale of the real-life Empress of China is re-imagined (as they say) in vivid detail that displays a true love of language. [More]

Graphic Novels no longer Mickey 'Maus' *
Thanks to such titles as Chris Ware's Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth, Joe Sacco's Safe Area Gorazde and Jason Lutes's Berlin: City of Stones, graphic novels are reviewed in major newspapers, carried in mainstream bookstores, and consumed by people who wouldn't think of reading Spider-Man or Spawn. [More]

Graphic novels to film? Easy-peasey *
Once upon a time it was just too expensive to turn the lavish fantasies of comic book writers into movies. But not anymore. Renowned graphic novelist Neil Gaiman reveals all. . . [More]

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth ****
Introducing a new evalu8.org column: Graphic Comics. "It surprised us when we heard it, but until Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth, the last comic or graphic novel to win a serious literary award was nearly ten years ago, when Art Spiegelman got a Pulitzer for his concentration camp memoir Maus." [More]

Little Orphan Annie and the Leap Year connection *
Annie's answer on why she never aged. . . [More]

Manga mania comes to the West *
Japanese comics and graphic novels are no longer just a niche market in North America. Manga is flooding into bookstores thanks to girls' buying power [More]

Packrat's comics stash yields SuperGold *
The highest price went to a 1944 Suspense Comics book with a campy cover of a bound woman surrounded by hooded Nazis. Originally purchased by Davis Crippen for a dime, it sold at auction for $47,800. [More]

Sandman: Not just a comic-book hero *
Neil Gaiman, author of the groundbreaking Sandman series, now frightens kids, including his own, LUMA MUHTADIE finds [More]

Sin City (graphic novel) ****
Watch for evalu8.org's review of the Sin City movie in the next few days. [More]

Sin City (Kit Johnson review) *****
In cinema, what Spiderman has achieved for comic books, Sin City will undoubtedly do for graphic novels, says Kit Johnson. He also calls it an "instant classic." Five stars, no less. [More]

Stan Lee: Captain Comics *
Like his heroes and villains, Stan Lee has taken some blows. But at 81, the man who helped create the Marvel universe is still going strong, ALEXANDRA GILL finds. [More]

Stardust (Garber synopsis) *
Neil Gaiman, creator of the darkly elegant Sandman comics, tells the story of young Tristran Thorn and his adventures in the land of Faerie. Note: Neil Gaiman appears at the Vancouver International Writers' Festival October 6, 2005. [More]

Studios call: Lights, comics, action! *
With comic-book inspired movies doing boffo box office, producers are mining even B-characters for more and more films. But is it too much of a good thing? [More]

The Beguiling (Toronto comic book store) *****
This unique lose-yourself-in-time collection of comix, alternative comic art, illustration books and fringe culture is worth discovering for anyone with an appreciation of graphic novels and new illustrative skill.
Toronto, ON [More]

V for Vendetta backgrounder / webpage *
The buzz intensifies for this upcoming movie. [More]

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Neil Gaiman fan? 'The Dangerous Alphabet' released April 29 *****
The Dangerous Alphabet will be released on April 29, 2008. You can pre-order yours at a savings of $5.76 by following any of the links, herein. . . [More]